Staying at The Legend's wasn't entirely what Billy had in mind, but they'd had nowhere else to go. The man had been the Senior Vice President of Hero Management, but had retired when he'd been backstabbed by Edgar who had replaced him with Stillwell. He'd laughed at that and then scoffed when the news had come in that she had died. He knew about Soldier Boy, of course. He knew all about the World War II propaganda surrounding Soldier Boy and he wasn't entirely on board with everything that they had done. He knew that supes could be dangerous. Soldier Boy was in his house and he wasn't entirely keen on him after what had happened in Vietnam and Soldier Boy's ideology.
"That your sister?"
Billy snapped out of the daze he was in. He had tried to find Mindstorm again, going to another one of his hideouts, but there had been nothing. He'd come back to find Victoria on the television screen, sat down next to Homelander, her hand inside of his as they appeared together on the Cameron Coleman show.
"Yeah," Billy confessed with a nod of his head. She hadn't gotten away. He had somehow found her. A stabbing pain filled his chest, his stomach churning and he wondered just what he was doing to her.
"She's a pretty piece," Soldier Boy said.
He was wrapped up in a silk floral robe and had a joint between his lips, dragging on it slowly. Hughie was stood behind the sofa, his hands clasping the back of it. He'd just gone down to the basement with The Legend to drag Soldier Boy away from the two women he had been engaged in sexual relations with, the sight scarring him for life.
"I thought we had a deal," Billy said, flopping back into the armchair, collapsing there and grasping hold of the arms of it. "You don't talk about her."
"I'm just saying that she is quite a good looking dame," Soldier Boy defended himself. "I can see why this Homelander's taken with her, but I don't think any woman is worth the trouble he's gone through to keep her…seems like he's obsessed."
"That's one word for it," Billy grunted and he saw the vacant expression on his sister's face, noting the way her eyes were looking at the host, but it was almost like she was looking through him. There was nothing there that showed she was enthralled with what was going on.
"Did you find Mindstorm?" Hughie asked, changing the topic because he knew how protective Billy got over his sister.
"I've been to three of his hidden places and found nothing. We're chasing our tails here," Billy said, waving his finger in the air as The Legend turned the TV onto mute. "I need something more here, mate," Billy said, pushing Soldier Boy who just shrugged to him.
"I gave you all I have. We have a deal too. You give me my team and then we deal with Homelander."
"I don't know how long that's going to take," Billy retorted. "We've got eight more places to check out and who is to say that he's going to be there? This is going to take weeks and I don't have weeks. I need to deal with Homelander sooner than that."
Hughie knew why. He knew that the longer Victoria was with Homelander then the more likely the supe was to do something to keep her there. Billy had almost freaked out as soon as he had seen Victoria on the screen. He might not have said anything, but Hughie had seen it in his face. It had been plain as day.
"A deal is a deal," Soldier Boy said.
"I just need a hand figuring this out," Billy said.
"I told you, Mindstorm's a paranoid fuck," Soldier said. "But, hell, if you could hear everyone's thoughts then you would be too. That's why he bought cabins all over the place. He's batshit crazy."
"Mindstorm's not crazy. He's bipolar," The Legend spoke up, moving from his seat and wanting to get away from the three of them. He didn't particularly care for Butcher. He thought he was toxic. He was dangerous. The kid was the only one he had a semblance of affection for.
"Bipolar?" Hughie asked. "Does he take meds for it?"
"I believe so. At least he did," The Legend said, moving into the kitchen as Hughie put pieces together, face scrunching up and Billy could see him thinking.
"Lithium prescriptions aren't that common," Hughie said, recalling what medicine Mindstorm would take. "If we look for cabins and then check local pharmacies…"
"We can see who is handing out lithium," Billy said, coming to the realisation of how that could cut their search time down. He clasped Hughie on the shoulder as he moved up to stand in front of him, prepared to get to work instantly. "Nice one, Hughie."
"So does this mean I should get dressed?" Soldier Boy questioned, Hughie and Billy exchanging knowing glances.
…
"Do you think she's going to be alright?"
Moving through the forest, they were trying to keep quiet. Soldier Boy walked a few paces ahead of them, dressed in his costume and holding onto his shield. Billy and Hughie had taken a dose of Temp V, prepared for whatever might come their way. Billy had kept his eye on Soldier Boy's back, knowing that he was suffering from PTSD. He'd seen men suffer in the army and he knew the signs. His coat hung open around his frame, boots unlaced and jeans scuffed up. He moved a hand over his cheek as Soldier Boy took a right turn.
"No," Billy said honestly, knowing who Hughie was asking about.
"I saw your face…when the news came on and she was there," Hughie said and Billy pursed his lips. He pretended to be tough. He pretended not to show any emotion, but he found that difficult to do with this kid. He'd grown fond of Hughie. Part of him reminded him of Lenny. He reminded him of his little brother's fight and innocence.
"I thought she might have made it," Billy confessed. "Stupid thing to think, eh? He'd never let her go, not when she has his daughter and is pregnant with another one of his sprogs."
"I know that you might not want to hear this," Hughie said in a gentle voice. "But I don't think that he'd hurt her. I know he's a lunatic and a raging monster, but she is still his wife. If we can get this done and then go to him then we stand a chance of ending this for all of our sakes."
"Yeah, let's hope so," Billy just said, not entirely convinced on his point. He wanted to be. He wanted to think that it could all end soon enough, but he just didn't have that faith. They continued moving through the forest, following Soldier Boy until the supe suddenly paused, standing up straighter.
"Fuck," he muttered.
Before anyone could do anything, they were tossed into the air, an explosion ringing out and the clearing filling with fog. Billy looked around for Hughie as soon as he gained his bearings, eyes open wide and throat clenching with fear. "Hughie!" he called his name.
A figure moved towards him through the mist, Billy looking straight at him and thinking that it would be Hughie. But as soon as the figure's face became clear, he knew that it wasn't him. It was Mindstorm and he had looked straight into his eyes. "Shit," Billy muttered as everything memories from his past came rushing to the forefront of his mind and he collapsed back against the leaves.
Billy knew that he was trapped in a nightmare. He could tell that was what was happening. He was back in his childhood flat in London, sat in his bedroom with Lenny on his bed, a baby in his arms with dark curls on her head. Billy shook his head and looked around.
"Lenny?" he called for his brother. He got no answer. "Oi, Lenny." He tried again, but there was still no response.
Billy looked to the ceiling, noting the peeling paint. "Knock it off, you fucking freak," Butcher demanded from Mindstorm, hoping that he could hear him, but nothing happened. He just remained stood inside the room he was in, observing the scene in front of him and powerless to do anything about it.
"Mum said she'll be back soon," Lenny said to his brother.
He was still a kid. Billy was a teenager, at the age where he was dreaming of getting out of the flat. Billy could only watch as his younger self went to sit down on the end of the bed, looking at the baby in his brother's arms as she wriggled around, stretching her limbs, wide eyes looking up and observing the world around her. He knew that it was Victoria, obviously. He remembered watching her when she had been born, her mother completely unprepared. She'd been a mistake, but that didn't mean her mother had loved her any less. Her father, on the other hand, was a different story.
"You been looking after her long?" Billy asked.
"Only an hour or so. She cried a bit, she seems happy now."
"Yeah?" Billy asked, looking to his sister and wondering just what life would throw at her as she grew up.
"She's funny. She makes all these faces and laughs at stupid things…like a sock puppet I made her."
Billy chuckled. "She's a baby, Lenny."
"Do you think she'd like that card trick? You know, when she's older."
"I'm sure she'll love it," Billy promised his brother as the door slammed open. Billy knew it was their father. He knew that there was no one else it could be. Their mother would never be so loud. She was always timid around the house.
"Get in the wardrobe…keep her quiet," Billy urged from his brother.
"Lenny!" their father yelled, demanding his son's attention, but Billy wasn't going to give him up. He was never going to let his father get to him. He'd have to go through him. Billy knew that he would, but he'd hoped by then he'd be too exhausted.
Billy forced his brother into the wardrobe, closing the doors on him and seeing him cower in the corner, Victoria in his arms, rocking her back and forth to keep her quiet.
"Where's Lenny?"
Billy could do nothing. He could just look on as his father stormed into the room, demanding to know where his brother was. Teenage Billy just stood there. He stood there and shrugged, not bothered about upsetting his father. The beating would be horrendous anyway. His father began to tug his belt from the waistband of his jeans.
"Come here. Come here," his father demanded and punched his square in the jaw. "Don't fuck me about," he demanded and then the hits started.
Billy looked away as his younger self fell onto his bed that was underneath his Charlton Athletic flag. He didn't fight back. He never fought back. He just laid there and took it, hoping that it would be over soon. Billy could feel his eyes begin to water. He wanted to help him, but he couldn't. He couldn't touch anything to make it stop. He was just trapped in an endless loop of the nightmare that was his childhood.
…
The scene shifted to a different vision. It was Billy, Lenny and their father in a pub. Victoria was with them, dressed in her school outfit. She had her hair in pigtails, wearing her pinafore school uniform dress with her thick woollen tights. There was a glass of water in front of her. She was flanked by her brothers who were in their school uniforms. Billy was due to finish school that year and he was going to get out as soon as he could. He wasn't bothering with A-Levels. He didn't need them. He'd save some money working his weekend job and then he'd join the army. Lenny was in the same school as him but in the younger year.
Their father sat down across from them and Billy wondered if he was going to get into it straight away. He'd been caught selling marijuana at school and had been dragged into the headmaster's office. He hadn't even bothered to defend himself. Instead, he'd just listened to the man tell him that he didn't need to be like his dad. He'd seen red and had lashed out, punching the headmaster with his own stapler until Lenny came in and stopped him, dragging him to his senses. But not before he punched him by accident as he tried to get him off.
Two pint glasses were placed on the table, warm beer sloshing over the top of them. Lenny was looking away, swearing that he'd rather be anywhere else but there. Victoria was silent, her eyes darting around the pub and her mouth often opening and closing, as if she wanted to say something but then thought better of it in the end. Billy caught her staring at him with her doe eyes, her little buck tooth sticking out as she opened her mouth and sighed. He looked away, not knowing what to say to her. She was just five. She was still a baby really.
"The world's an ocean of shite, kids," their father began, not minding his language one bit. "You either sink or you swim. Today, Billy, my boy, you swam. Some cunts need a slap. Don't they?" he asked, putting one of the pint glasses in front of Billy who remained silent.
Lenny looked down, hair falling into his eyes before his father kicked him under the table to gain his attention. "Oi. You ought to take a page out of his book. You don't want to be a fucking little poof all of your life," he snapped at him. Lenny just looked down as Sam turned his gaze to his daughter who was looking at her brother. "And you, Victoria," he said her name and her wide eyes turned to him. "You need to learn the same lesson, alright? You might be young, but you need to know to stick up for yourself. You might not have been wanted, but you're still a Butcher."
Victoria's mouth opened and closed again, gaping like a fish. But she said nothing. Her little face scrunched up, her brows knitting together as she looked down to her lap, ponytails falling over her shoulders and down her shoulders.
"Don't you listen to him," Billy said, moving towards his two siblings and crouching by the side of Lenny's chair. "Don't listen to anything that he says. He's a worthless lump of shite. You two are so much better than him. You're always wanted."
…
Billy stood in the kitchen of his flat again. He was all on his own. No one had come in yet. He looked around at the old wallpaper that was tearing in places. The sofa had rips in it and the carpet stains from his father's cigarette ash and spilled alcohol. He heard the door open then and Lenny walked out of his bedroom. He moved through the room and looked straight at Billy for the first time since he'd been forced into his memories.
"You thought that if you went then he'd leave me alone," Lenny said to Billy who shook his head, eyes watering as he knew what was going to come next. He went to his brother, longing to reach for him and stop him. He moved across the kitchen, intent clear. "But he didn't, Billy. He just beat me black and blue and I can't take it anymore."
He picked up a kitchen chair and he sat it down besides the cabinet. Billy's tears fell down his cheeks and he shook his head. "I didn't know that he would do it. I thought that with me gone then he'd stop."
"I can hear Victoria crying in her room every night when he does. She tried to stop him once but he slapped her…locked her in her wardrobe…I've tried to keep her away since, but I can't keep listening to her cry for me."
Lenny stepped onto the chair and pulled open one of the top cabinets. He scoured for the tin at the back of it where his father kept his gun. Billy shook his head.
"I didn't know…please, fuck, no, don't do this."
"He's beating the living shit out of me, Billy," Lenny said and he stepped down once he had the tin. He pulled the gun out and found the bullets, pushing them into the chamber. "This is your fault. You did this."
"No…I didn't…" Billy said, stammering over his words.
"Come off it, Billy," Lenny urged, the clicking noise as the chamber of the gun revolved echoing in his ears. "You've always been this man because everyone who ever loved you just ends up killed…first me, Becca…and now Hughie. The last person on this earth who is trying to help you and he'll be gone because of you. You left Victoria alone to one monster and you couldn't save her from another…she's never coming back now."
"No, Lenny, she will. I can make this right," Billy tried to persuade him, but he didn't think it was working.
Instead, he could only watch as Lenny held the gun up and looked him in the eye one final time. "You'll never change, Billy. Nothing will make you change."
"No, Lenny!" Billy shouted as his brother pushed the gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger.
…
She was sixteen and he'd seen her just more than a handful of times since Lenny's funeral. He tried not to go home after what had happened. He'd joined the army and been on tours, leaving the country and seeing a new way of life. He was convinced that Victoria would be safe. Social services had been round after Lenny's suicide. His father was on his best behaviour. His mum had greeted him warmly, embracing him and kissing him on the cheek. His father had remained sat in his chair, not bothering to move or say anything to him.
Victoria had been in her room and he'd knocked on the door before going in. There were library books discarded everywhere on the floor, notebooks on top of them. She was sat on her bed, legs crossed and an exercise book open in front of her. She was still wearing her school uniform, long curly hair coming down to her shoulders. Her skirt was flared around her knees, white shirt with the top button undone and tie pulled loose.
"Hey."
She looked up to her brother. "I didn't know you were back," she said to him, setting her pen down on top of her open book.
Billy shrugged his shoulders. "Figured I should come and see how you were all getting on. I'm on a two-week break…got to be back at the barracks in a couple of days."
"So what have you done in your two weeks off?" Victoria asked him. "Seeing as we're your last stop."
Shifting from one foot to the other, Billy closed the door behind him and went to sit down at the side of her single bed that was pushed up against the wall. He looked around her room, noting that she hardly had anything that gave away her personality. The walls were bare, the duvet was a checked grey pattern and her bedside drawers tilted. There were no photos of her with her friends or makeup scattered around. There were just a lot of books. She was studying for her GCSE's and clearly taking them seriously.
"I was gonna come earlier, but things just-"
"-It's fine," Victoria interrupted, clearly not interested in his apology. She kept her gaze lowered to her lap, her fingers knitting together. "You don't need to explain it, Billy."
"It's just hard," Billy confessed to her. "Coming back here is always hard."
"So is living here," Victoria said to her brother in a mutter.
He sighed. "I know dad's drinking…mum's working…I know it isn't easy, but he…it's not like what Lenny went through, is it? He'd never hurt you."
Victoria looked to him then and he knew in that instant that he was wrong. His brows knitted together and he shook his head. He knew his dad was a piece of work, but he never thought that he'd hurt his daughter. He considered that to go against the codes he had. Then again, just because she was a girl, why would that stop a man like him?
"Victoria," Billy said her name and he saw her eyes water as she started to cry, shaking her head and clearly longing to drop the conversation.
"It's fine."
"No, it isn't," Billy retorted, his voice deep and firm. He didn't want to hear any of this. He didn't want to think that he'd left his sister to his father, just like he'd left Lenny. "Tell me. Just tell me."
"No. I need to do my homework. You should go and do whatever it is you do," Victoria said and she started to move from the bed. She stood up and he grabbed hold of her arm to stop her from walking away. His grip wasn't tight, but she winced anyway, muttering an 'ow' an under her breath. Billy quickly rolled her sleeve up then and he saw the marks. Standing up, he kept her arm in his grip, running a finger down the scars.
"Has he been doing this to you?"
"Don't do anything."
"I'm not leaving here and doing nothing," Billy said to his sister and he dropped her arm, the image of her skin covered in cigarette burns engraved his mind. Storming out into the living room, his mother looked confused as she saw him, Victoria behind him.
"Billy," Victoria pleaded, but he was already picking his father up and slamming him against the wall, the can of beer dropping from his hands and falling to the floor, the liquid fizzing out of it.
"William!" his mother shouted his name, but his father said nothing. He just let his son shove him against the wall, faces inches from each other. Spit gathered at the corner of Billy's mouth as he kept his father pinned there, knuckles white from his grip. He despised the man in front of him.
"You fucking touch her again and I swear I'll kill you," Billy snapped at his father and his mother looked to Victoria who had hurriedly rolled her sleeve down. She said nothing however, looking down and knowing that she'd once again failed her children. She should have left him years ago and taken them somewhere else. But she hadn't. She'd stayed with him and she'd suffered at his hands just as they had. She hated him. She despised who he was, but she never left him.
"You and I both know you don't have it in you. You're tough, but you're not that tough and the girl needs to learn that…she thinks she's smart enough to get out of here…but she's not…she's a dumb girl who speaks back every time she's spoken to."
Victoria shook her head slowly, the tears filling in her eye. Billy slammed his father against the wall once again and shook his head. "Is it not bad enough you forced Lenny to kill himself? You're going to keep hurting your own kids…not anymore…if I find out you touch her again then I'll kill you. Fuck social services. Fuck the police. I'll deal with you."
His father just chuckled at him as Billy dropped him from his grip, turning to look to his mother. "Keep an eye on her," he said to her. "And get away from him before it's too late."
She said nothing, just nodded once before Billy looked to Victoria. "And call me if he ever touches you again," he demanded from his sister and she just watched him with wide eyes.
"Lenny was weak. I'm trying to make her tougher," his father continued and Billy shook his head. He needed to go before he did something that he really would regret.
Taking the stairs down back to the lobby and then the car park, younger Billy left the building, inhaling the sharp breaths of air. Victoria followed him and Billy followed her, knowing what was coming next. He knew that she was going to get him before he could get to his car and beg him not to leave her. He'd tell her that he had to. He would tell her that she'd be fine and that he'd be back as soon as he heard she was in trouble.
"Don't leave her," Billy said to himself as he climbed into the car, Victoria stepping back and crying hysterically. "You don't know the half of what's happening to her. You have no idea…take her with you…please…save her because I couldn't save Lenny."
"Billy, please," Victoria cried again, looking into the window of the car. "I'll be good, I promise. Please don't leave me."
But he did. He drove off and left Victoria crying in his rear view mirror.
…
Billy had only know Eddie Morell for a short while. He was one of his dad's drinking partners. They'd go to the pub and come home completely wasted, smoking and drinking more until they passed out. Billy knew what was going to happen as he was moved back into his flat's living room, the light peeking out from his sister's bedroom. She was still awake. He moved towards it, stepping into the room. His father was on the sofa, arm dangling over the edge as he laid on the cushions, eyes closed and soft snores leaving his body.
Hesitantly, Billy stepped into the bedroom and he felt sick. Victoria was sat on the edge of the bed, Eddie next to her. She must have been nearly seventeen. Her hair had grown since his last visit to her. She looked skinnier too, like she hadn't been eating. Eddie lifted a hand and brushed it down her hair, stroking it gently.
"You're going to be quiet, aren't you?" he asked from her.
Billy walked around the room, footsteps slow and unsteady until he stood before them. His sister was still in her school uniform, her gaze vacant, almost like she was imagining she was somewhere else. Billy had left her to this. He had left her to this monster.
"Because you know what happens if anyone hears you…I tell them you seduced me…you've always had a crush on me…and imagine how disappointed they'd be in you. The police wouldn't take you seriously, not least because I know everyone down at the station."
She just nodded her head and Eddie's plump lips turned up, his greasy blonde hair falling slightly into his face as he moved his hand down her neck and to her shoulder, slipping underneath her open shirt, fingers running along her collarbone.
"Good girl," he whispered to her and Billy shook his head, anger coursing through his veins.
"Don't you fucking touch her," he demanded from him, teeth ground together.
"Why don't you take that shirt off and get on your knees, hmm?"
And Billy screamed, the noise guttural as he waited for the pain to continue. But it didn't.
His eyes fluttered open and his shouted echoed in the forest as he felt hands on his shoulders. He reached out for the arms holding him and he saw Hughie. His eyes widened and he shook his head quickly, the fear still inside of him. "I'm sorry," Billy said, voice on the edge and full of pain. "I'm so fucking sorry."
"It's alright," Hughie said to him, just glad that he had managed to find Mindstorm and wake Billy up before Soldier Boy got to him.
"I'm just so sorry," Billy whispered again and Hughie knew that he was talking about something else. But he didn't push him. He just helped Butcher up and knew that he would be there if he needed him.
…
Standing at the foot of his bed, Homelander kept his arms folded over his chest and looked to Victoria in his bed. She was sleeping soundly. Jacobs had sedated her twice throughout the night to keep her calm, but he had warned him that he couldn't keep her in that state forever. Homelander had decided not to leave her in the guest room, opting to put her in his bed instead. He held Evelyn in his arms after picking her up, trying to soothe her. She'd cried for quite some time, but then she had settled down when he had spent time with her. He watched her smile and laugh at him before she had started to drift off in his grip. He'd carried her up the stairs to check on Victoria, which is where he found her still.
He'd changed her into a long-sleeved white top and grey jogging pants, her bed socks on her feet. He figured she would at least be comfortable then, but he wasn't entirely sure why he cared about her comfort after what she'd done to him. He was so angry with her. He was upset. He was feeling so much that he hadn't known how to process it. She was still his wife. She was still the woman he'd fallen in love with. She hadn't changed, not really. She was still stubborn but gentle. She had a dark sense of humour but an ability to take him seriously and make him feel valued.
But he had done the one thing he never wanted to do. He'd taken Evelyn from her. He remembered when Evelyn had been born. He remembered Victoria's nightmares about Edgar taking her away. He remembered going to her bed and holding her to him and she clung to him, thinking that he would be the one who protected her and made sure she was never separated from his daughter.
But things had changed. She might still be the same Victoria, but things around them were completely different and he had no idea how he was going to handle it unless he could wipe her memories. But he could do that and it might not matter. It would still be on the news about what he'd done…how he'd called Starlight a traitor…how Maeve was missing…and she would know that. She would become inquisitive and he couldn't hide everything from her. He was in a mess. He knew that he was in a mess.
"Mummy."
Homelander barely heard the voice, assuming that it must have come from somewhere else. But then he looked down at Evelyn. She was looking up to him and he realised that it was her. She'd spoken her first word and it had been mummy. She had been asking for her mother. Homelander kept looking down to her as Evelyn cocked her head, babbling again, incoherent noise leaving her mouth before she said it again. "Mummy."
Homelander inhaled a sharp breath and started to leave the bedroom, walking away from Victoria. Carrying Evelyn downstairs, he kept his lips pursed, not sure what to say. Her first word had to be that. He knew it. He set her down in her crib and watched as she laid there, struggling to turn over and begin crawling around. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, he moved a hand down his face before he felt his phone begin to vibrate.
"What?" he asked, not bothering with manners.
"It's me," Ashley's voice said. "We need to do some crisis management after this entire Starlight issue."
"I'm not in the mood right now, Ashley," Homelander snarled back. "You worked in PR right? Then you do your fucking job and sort it."
He hung up, not wanting to engage in conversation with her. He had about a minute to himself before the phone went again. He answered it again, prepared to tell Ashley where to go and leave him alone. He wasn't in the mood for her.
"What now?" he snapped into the receiver.
"Sir, we've got someone on the line for you."
"Whoever it is, I'm not interested," Homelander retorted.
"He's saying he's Soldier Boy."
Homelander froze then, taking a second to compose himself. He gulped and looked to his daughter who was still laid in the cot, settling down and clearly starting to feel sleepy. He nodded his head once. "Put him through," he said.
He waited for the call to be transferred.
"Is this really you?" Homelander questioned into the phone once he heard breathing on the other end.
"The situation has changed," he heard down the phone and he stood up, moving over to the window and looking at the night sky beyond him. "I thought we should have a conversation."
"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but you got lucky," Homelander snapped down the phone, feeling the throbbing pain from his bruise for a brief second at the reminder of what had happened in the fight. "Because you ambushed me."
"In Fall 1980, I get called into Vogelbaum's lab for an experiment…some shit about genetics. I still remember the Penthouse I used…that gal…very attractive woman-"
"-What?" Homelander asked, face scrunching up in confusion.
"I beat my meat into a cup," Soldier Boy continued. "Turns out that Vogelbaum made a kid born in Spring 1981…a boy…and you know what the bitch of it is? If they've have kept me around then I'd have let you take the spotlight. What father wouldn't want that for his son?"
Homelander came to understand what he was saying. It couldn't be. No. how was that possible? He did have a father after all. He had a father and Vought had kept them from him all of his life. Homelander gulped down a sense of sickness and his hand shook. He managed to keep hold of the phone and Soldier Boy was quiet, waiting for a response to come his way. But Homelander didn't know if he did have the response.
"You're a father too, right?" Soldier Boy continued talking. "A little girl isn't the same as a boy, I guess, but I take it you love her…would have done anything for her?"
"I would do anything for her," Homelander corrected.
"And I'd have done the same for you if I knew about you. I'd have raised you like you should have been raised."
"It's too late for that."
"I know that, but I thought you had a right to know," Soldier Boy said. "Because you had no idea, did you? You have the life I thought I might have had with Crimson Countess…turns out she never loved me either just like your wife never loved you. I'd say we're not so different, but I guess we are in other ways."
"What does this change?" Homelander wondered.
"That remains to be seen," he replied. "Time will tell, I guess."
Hanging up on him, Homelander checked the phone to make sure that the call had ended. He clicked onto his screensaver of his wife and daughter before locking it. He tossed his phone onto Victoria's desk and rested his hands on the window in front of him, bowing his head until his forehead pressed against the glass. He had a father. He actually had a father. He was someone's son. He didn't know what he should do, but he knew that he had a family. He had the chance for a real family and he wasn't going to mess that up.
Victoria was either going to see sense or he would find a way to make her. He checked on Evelyn again and peered to her before remembering the address he had for Ryan hidden inside of his suit. He intended on using it sooner than he thought. If he could bring Ryan back then everything would be better. But he needed Victoria on side. He couldn't have her speaking to Ryan and turning him against him. He wouldn't let that happen.
He needed a plan on how to deal with all of this and he knew he'd have one sooner rather than later.
…
Standing in The Legend's game room in the basement, Billy leant against the pool table after he had finished the food that Hughie had brought them. Soldier Boy had gone to the guest room, something clearly eating away at him. He hadn't said anything since he'd smashed Mindstorm's brain in. He'd been unusually quiet and that was more worrying than whenever he was spouting his bullshit. Hughie had tidied the plates away before going back down to find Billy.
"You know," he said, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He walked into the room slowly, seeing how Billy was running a hand down his chin, scratching his beard. "We don't need to talk about it, but I just want to make sure that you're alright after everything that happened in the forest today."
"You know about Lenny, don't ya?" Billy checked with Hughie.
The other man nodded his head slowly, eyes closed tightly. "That time we were at your aunts…she mentioned him…but then Annie…you know we talk, Butcher. We talk about stuff and you know she's Victoria's best friend."
"Then you really do know everything."
"You were trapped there, weren't you?"
He just nodded his head once, confirming that was what had happened. "I don't want to talk about," Billy said with a shake of his head, the look of his sister's horror etched firmly in his brain.
"It's alright," Hughie said to him. "I just wanted to make sure that you're okay and that…I'm with you on this, alright? I'm not going anywhere anytime soon until we deal with everything."
Billy felt himself begin to smile. He was going soft on the lad and he knew it. Instead, he sniffed and clasped Hughie on the back. "You're a good egg, Hughie," he said to him. "Now, how about we have some of that old prick's whiskey? Would really piss him off."
Hughie knew that was much emotion as he was going to get from Butcher. So he just chuckled and nodded, scurrying back up the stairs to leave Billy alone again. Moving around the pool table, Billy wondered if the kid had ever played before, figuring it would be something to do considering they were both too wired to sleep. He picked up one of the red balls as he saw Hughie's phone begin to light up, vibrating on the other side of the green felt. Reaching over, he picked up and answered.
"Hello?"
"Butcher, is Hughie there?"
"Ah, Starlight, how delightful," he said without the usual high level of sarcasm. He didn't know if he could muster that just yet.
"Listen, I need to talk to him."
"He's just gone upstairs."
"It's important," Starlight said. "I went to Vought Tower and I saw where they make Temp-V. I read all about it and it has lethal side effects. How many doses have you taken?"
Bill stood up straight then, setting the ball back down and holding onto the edge of the table. "Just a couple," he muttered.
"Well, any more than five and it turns your brain to Swiss cheese," Annie said to him and Billy knew what that meant. Closing his eyes, he knew it had been a stupid idea to take an untested drug from Vought, but he knew that it had been the only way of beating Homelander. He'd had blood leak from his ear a couple of times, but he had hoped that had just been the only side effect. He couldn't afford to dwell on it though, not when they were so close to getting what they wanted.
"Butcher," Starlight continued to talk, "I need to talk to Hughie. You need to tell him that he can't take anymore."
"Yeah, I'll pass that message along," Billy said and he hung up on her before she could continue to protest. He rejected her next call too, leaving the phone on silent and turned face down. He knew that he should tell Hughie everything. He should tell him what he knew. But he couldn't, not yet, not when they could finish this once and for all.
…
"You're awake."
Victoria hardly felt awake. She was groggy, her limbs aching as she sat up in bed, realising that it wasn't the guest bedroom. He'd drugged her and left her in his bed. Her head was pounding and her eyes were struggling to adjust to the light around her. Moving to take hold of her forehead, she saw that he'd changed her into some old clothes.
"Where's Evie?" she asked from him.
Clasped hands behind his back, he let out a deep sigh and began walking around the room, pacing slowly until he was at the foot of the bed, peering down onto her. "Evie is fine. She's down at the nursery and is perfectly safe. I brought her back up here while you were out for the count."
"You mean after you'd drugged me?"
"You were hysterical."
"You were taking my daughter from me," Victoria said, feeling the rage beginning to bubble back into her veins despite her sleepy state. She bit down on her tongue and tried to move from the bed, pushing the thick duvet back that at one time she had loved nestling into.
"Don't move or I'll make this ten times worse," Homelander said, holding a hand up and indicating that she should stop. She did as he had asked for a brief moment, sitting back up against the headboard and tucking her hair behind her ear. His lips turned upwards into a smarmy smile. "Thank you."
She glowered at him and he let out a deep breath, going to sit on the edge of the bed. "Now, I need you to keep calm because Doctor Jacobs is concerned for you. This pregnancy…he worries that the stress could hurt you or the baby and we don't want that, do we?"
"Have you ever considered that you're the cause of my stress?" Victoria demanded from him.
His eyes turned dark, but she didn't squirm under the intense look. She jutted her chin out and glared back defiantly. "I am the only one who is trying to look out for you," he replied and she was amazed that he was so deluded as to believe that. Then again, she knew who she was dealing with. "Evelyn has been taken away for your own protection and hers. Until I am certain she is safe around you then I think it is for the best."
"I'd never do anything to hurt her," Victoria said.
"No, but she clings too much to you."
"I am her mother," Victoria replied. "I know that means something to you, John. I know that you can't think that I'd do anything to turn her against you…use her as a weapon…you have to know that because I despise what Vought did to you and how they used you. I would never do that to Evie. I love her. I want her to have a childhood where no one treats her like a pawn and she can make her own decisions. I've told you that so many times. Please, just believe me."
And he wanted to. He wanted to believe her so badly. She had said those things to him and he couldn't deny it. She had been kind and considerate. She had been deeply disturbed by his own childhood. His silence spoke louder than words and Victoria hoped that she had gotten through to him.
"I need time to think," he decided on saying.
"John, please-"
"-No amount of pleading is going to change my mind, Victoria," he said, voice dangerously low and almost warning her not to push him any further. "You might have been able to flash me those eyes and appeal to my good nature before all of this, but right now you should thank yourself lucky that I'm even here and considering letting you see Evelyn."
She bit her tongue, longing to snap back at him and tell him what she thought of him. But she didn't. She knew how dangerous he could be and she wasn't intending on testing him anytime soon. It took her a moment to compose herself as he ran a hand through his slicked back hair.
"Good," he said when he realised she wasn't going to continue arguing with him. "So, you see, I had some news while you were sleeping."
Drugged, she thought in her head but remained mute.
"I found out that Soldier Boy is my father," Homelander said and Victoria's mouth gaped at that, her brows pinching together. She shook her head as Homelander's fingers laced together on his lap and he peered down to them, his own nose scrunching as he came to terms with it.
"I thought you said you had no parents."
"That's what Vought led me to believe," he responded. "They told me that I had no mother or father, but I guess it would make sense that I do. Vogelbaum used Soldier Boy's…you know…sperm," he said, "and that's how I was created. I looked into it and it's true. He's definitely my father."
"Shit," Victoria whispered. "Have you seen him since?"
"No," Homelander said. "Spent a tonne of time in the archives watching his old promo material though. I took Evie down with me as well."
"But what did he say? I mean, was he happy?"
Homelander chuckled at that, flicking a speck of fluff from the corner of his duvet. "I wouldn't say he was happy, but I guess it's a big shock to him. He maybe needs time to digest. We did almost fight to the death after all," he reminded her. "But this means that he can't hurt me, Vicky. I'm his son. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me. We…we can be a family…he has a grandson and a granddaughter…a daughter-in-law."
"Are you going to see him?" Victoria wondered, not as convinced that they could be a happy family together.
"That was my intention," he said, "but I have someone else I need to see first."
"Who?"
"Ryan."
She frowned. "But he's in hiding."
"I have his address," Homelander said.
"How?" Victoria asked, wondering her brother knew any of this. Homelander shook his head and stood up, he bent down and pecked her on the forehead, a hand cupping her cheek. She looked at him, gaze inquisitive and her lips slightly parted.
"You don't need to worry about that," he said to her. "I need you to stay here and don't think about escaping. Evie is fine where she is and I'll be back as soon as I can be…rest…have a bath…make some dinner."
"You're bringing him back here?"
"That was my intention and I need you to behave while he's here, Vic," Homelander warned from her, standing tall with hands behind his back. "You know, the better you behave then the quicker you'll be able to see Evelyn. I don't enjoy acting this way…making these threats…but you really have left me no choice. Do you think you can do that for me? Be good while I'm gone?"
"I'll stay here," she settled on saying to him and he smiled, squeezing her cheek softly before letting her go.
"Good girl," he whispered. "I'll be back soon."
Moving to the door, he clasped hold of the frame before turning his head over his shoulder to look back at her. "And sweetheart, if you even think of trying to get out then I'll know. Do you understand me?"
She had no idea how he would know, but she suspected he'd probably bugged the penthouse. All she could do was gulp and nod, Homelander smiling widely at her and winking before taking off and leaving her alone once again, plotting how to get out.
…
"Did you tell Hughie?" Alex asked from Annie.
Everything had been chaotic since her plan and Frenchie and Kimiko walking back in. The young woman was clearly injured, Annie helping her to bed and then sneaking into Vought Tower not only to entrap Homelander, but to get a dose of V for her considering she'd lost her powers. Frenchie had been smoking weed almost constantly, M.M. opening the windows and trying to get the smell out. Alex had been there, loitering around and not entirely feeling like he belonged. He'd gone out a few times in normal clothes, hoping not to stand out or be recognised.
Once or twice he'd gone to the Tower during the five days since Herogasm. He'd stood around the block from it and looked up, wondering what his life might have looked like if he'd have stayed in the Seven. He wondered if it might have been simpler than being on the run, but the fact was that he was compelled to do the right thing. He knew that sometimes he messed up, but he prided himself on knowing what the right thing to do was.
"His phone has been dead since last night and he hasn't answered. Butcher picked up but I don't know if he'd have given him the message. I'm guessing not judging by this radio silence."
"You think that he wouldn't tell him?"
Annie sighed, tugging at her ponytail. The two of them had gone outside, heading to the local park and needing some time outside and some fresh air. Sitting on a bench in a shaded area, Annie shrugged.
"When it comes to Butcher, I have no idea what he'd do," she confessed to him. "I do know that he's a selfish asshole, especially when it comes to getting what he wants and what he wants is Homelander out the way…but at the expense of Hughie…I only hope he's not that far gone."
"I don't know," Alex confessed, leaning back on the bench. He was dressed in a short sleeved dark blue shirt and dark blue jeans, white sneakers on his feet and a black jacket over his arm that he'd taken off when he'd gotten warm. "I think if someone had raped my wife and then married my sister…hurt her…I'd be out for revenge too."
"But you wouldn't risk other people."
"We can say that sitting here, but we're not in his position. No one knows what they'd do until they've lived something," he pointed out to Annie. "I'm not defending him and I know that if he keeps this from Hughie then we can kick his ass. All I'm saying is that his judgment is clouded right now. We just need to hope that he comes through."
"When it comes to Butcher, I'm not entirely hopeful," Annie said as her phone vibrated and she looked at the breaking news alert. Alex observed her staring.
"What is it?" he asked.
"The Attorney General is on the way to Vought Tower…it's Maeve…they've discovered she isn't in a rehab centre and FreeMaeve is trending all over social media."
"If they're on the way to the Tower then they have a warrant, right? They can get her out?"
"Unless Vought do something to move her," Annie said, not putting it past them at all.
"And Victoria?"
Annie shook her head, scrolling through the article and quoted it. "The Attorney General's office have had direct communication with Dr Anderton, wife of Homelander, and are convinced she is safe at the Tower and is where she wants to be."
"Bullshit."
"I knew that was pushing it, but it was worth a try," Annie replied. "She won't leave because she's scared of him and what he can do. It's understandable. I was only his co-captain but I was constantly scared of what he might do. I can't imagine being married to him."
"I don't think we'd want to imagine," Alex retorted.
Annie concurred. He wasn't wrong there. She took a moment to consider what was going to come next. "Maybe Butcher has a point. Maybe the only way to end this is with Soldier Boy killing Homelander…but the amount of people who could die in the process…and the amount of people Soldier Boy's killed…none of this sits right."
"The idea of Soldier Boy being around if Homelander's gone is concerning," Alex said to her with a nod of his head. "But at this stage I don't know if we just have to pick the lesser of two evils. I know I'm biased and I know that she would probably argue back with me, but the only way Victoria is getting out is if we pick Soldier Boy to kill Homelander."
"She wouldn't want to know a man like Soldier Boy is out in the world."
"No, but she doesn't want to spend her life living with that monster," Alex replied. "I'm not speaking for her, I'm just…I'm here to help, Annie, I really am. I chose to help, but I know that things can never be perfect and choices need to be made. I guess what I'm saying is that if it comes down to it…then I'm going to pick whatever gets her out in the end. It might not ultimately be the right choice or the choice you'd make, but I'm doing this for her."
"I know you care about her, Alex. I love her so much. She's like a sister I never had…but I just…none of this is sitting right with me. I want to pick her. I want to find a way to get her out that doesn't involve Soldier Boy."
"And if that way doesn't exist?"
"Then I don't know," Annie confessed to him.
"Well, you're probably going to have to think on it because time is running out," Alex said and she tilted her head back to the sky before her phone began vibrating again, a call coming through. The number was unknown. Answering it, she pressed it to her ear cautiously.
"Hello?"
"Annie, it's me. I fucked up," Hughie said to her down the line and Alex listened in for a second, both of them exchanging brief glances. "I need you to come and get me."
"Where are you?"
"Some gas station on the outskirt of the city…Jamie's Diner…"
"I'll be there," Annie said and hung up with no comment of affection.
"Cold," Alex commented.
"I'm still mad with him," Annie replied and stood up, grabbing her bag and denim jacket. "I should get going and ask M.M. if I can borrow his car. You coming back?"
"I might stay here for a while," Alex said. "You go, I'll see you back at base."
"Be careful."
"You too."
She turned and walked away, leaving Alex alone to look up to the sky and think about different ways to try and kill Homelander, stop Soldier Boy and save Victoria. All three seemed impossible to do and so he knew then that he'd have to make a choice.
…
"Look who's here."
Victoria was stood in the kitchen, hair tied into a ponytail and dressed in a flared, pleated green skirt, a thin red jumper tucked into it. Homelander almost did a double-take at seeing her stood by the stove, stirring something in a pan that smelt rich and tomatoey. He had his hand on Ryan's shoulder and Victoria turned to the door, leaving the sauce to simmer as the young boy moved into the room.
"Hi, Victoria," he greeted her.
"Ryan," she sighed his name and moved towards him. "Look at you…you've grown so much."
"Hasn't he?" Homelander commented proudly. "And he's using his powers too. You should have seen him throwing a baseball when I got there…miles into the air…just like his old man, aren't you?"
Ryan nodded, looking up to Homelander like he wanted his affection. "And I got the presents you sent me," Ryan said. "I loved them."
"I'm glad you enjoyed them and that Billy got them to you,' Victoria said and she saw the young boy look down at the sound of her brother's name. Had something happened between them? She didn't know, but she did know that it was safer not to bring it up again. "And if you're staying then you I should get a bed set up, right?"
"I told him that he can have the guest room," Homelander said. Victoria looked to him, almost challenging his comment silently. "Well, you don't need it, do you, sweetheart?"
"And Evie?" Victoria asked.
"She can stay with us so she doesn't bother Ryan," Homelander said.
"So you're going to bring her back?"
Homelander shifted from one foot to the other. "Ryan, head on upstairs…it's the last door on the right. You go and wash your hands then you can come down for dinner."
"Alright," Ryan said, sensing some tension but not commenting on it. He moved back to the door and then stopped, turning back and saying what was on his mind. "I was really happy when dad said you'd gotten married…and I have a sister."
Victoria's chest ached at his comment. He wanted a family. Of course he wanted a family. She chewed down on the inside of her cheek and forced herself to smile at him. He took off then, rushing up the stairs and leaving Homelander alone with Victoria.
"Evelyn is only going to be here when I'm around. Do you understand that? Otherwise she will be with me or Natalie in the nursery."
"John-"
"-We talked about this earlier," he warned her. "No amount of pleading is going to change what's going to happen."
"And Ryan?"
"What about him?"
"Do you not think that people will come looking for him?"
"Like Butcher?" Homelander asked and Victoria went back to the stove as the pasta sauce threatened to boil over. She turned the temperature down and Homelander went to the fridge, grabbing a carton of milk. "You know what your brother said to him? He said that he couldn't stand being around him because he blamed him for what happened to Becca. Ryan's been living with guilt ever since…thinking it was his fault he killed his mom…I told him it wasn't and that accidents happen, but I was always going to be there for him. He needs his family, Victoria. He needs what we can give him."
Victoria remained silent, turning around and folding her arms over her stomach, thinking about her brother. She swore he could be an idiot sometimes. He probably hadn't meant what he'd said. He had been lashing out, as Billy does, but Ryan wasn't to know any of that. He was a kid and the fact that Billy hadn't even tried to make it up to him since had pushed him straight into the arms of his father, the one thing they didn't want to happen.
"Fine," Victoria said. What more could she say? Ryan was here to stay and she wasn't going to push him away. "But you need to be gentle with him. He's gone through so much in his short life."
Homelander scoffed and finally took a gulp of milk. "I'm going to be fine with him," Homelander promised her with a wave of his hand. "Anyway, I should ask what's gotten into you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well…cooking dinner…smartly dressed…you've even used that expensive perfume I bought you for Christmas."
Victoria shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. She didn't want to do this. She would rather be in bed, screaming in frustration, but that wasn't going to get her Evelyn back. Homelander put the carton away and advanced towards her, his footsteps slow and almost predatory.
"You know, I'm not an idiot," he told her, a hand dropping to her hip. "I know you're just playing nice in the hope I'll let you be with Evelyn again. I know that none of this is for me…not anymore."
"But it's what you want, right?" Victoria checked with him, looking at him, head cocked to the side. "You want me to be like this? Calm…making an effort…looking after things…am I doing this in the hope that you'll mellow and let me see Evie? Yes. Am I doing it because I think I can convince you that I want to play happy family with you? No. We're long past doing that."
His lips arched at hearing her. She was still so stubborn. He let his hand squeeze her hip, feeling her squirm under his firm pinch as he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "I always get what I want, darling. You know that."
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer her. Instead, he heard Ryan come back into the kitchen. "Can I help with dinner?" he wondered.
"No, buddy," Homelander said. "Victoria here has got everything under control. Why don't we go to the balcony, hm? We can practice flying…see how high we can get?"
"Really?"
"Sure," Homelander said and he led Ryan away, looking back to Victoria, meeting her eye and the smarmy smile fell on his face. He'd just gotten to the balcony when he heard the intercom buzz. He groaned inwardly but kept the fake smile on just for Ryan, patting his shoulder.
"You head out, I'll just get that," Homelander said and he moved over to the elevator, granting permission for Ashley to come up. Going back to the living room, he found that Victoria had come to the door, towel in her hands as she dried them. Homelander didn't have to wait long before Ashley came stumbling in, the Deep behind her.
"What is it?" Homelander asked, voice curt.
Ashley gulped. If he was in a bad mood already then it was only going to get worse. "It's Maeve. We had to have her moved from the Tower because the Attorney General was on his way and we couldn't get hold of you," she explained. "But the issue is that…she's gone…she killed the team that were sent to take her to the facility outside the city."
"Gone?"
"I've got everyone in Crime Analytics looking for her," Deep said.
"Oh great," Homelander said sarcastically. "So what? That's like five people? For fuck sake…I leave for a few hours and everything goes to shit. No one can handle anything around here except for me."
"That's not all," Ashley conceded.
"Oh, it gets better, does it?" Homelander asked, tone snapping and voice harsh. He sounded annoyed, but all Victoria could think was how good it was that Maeve was free. Perhaps they had a shot?
"Noir is back. He's in the meeting room."
Homelander stammered then. "Noir?" he checked.
"Yeah. Do you want us to fetch him or-"
"-No," Homelander interrupted Deep, shaking his head. "I'll go and speak to him. Get out, both of you."
They scurried away as Victoria remained silent, standing in the doorway and watching her husband as he clearly grappled around in his own thoughts. She wondered if Noir had known about Soldier Boy being Homelander's father. He had been on Payback after all. Victoria kept playing with the towel between her hands.
"Sounds like you've got a lot to deal with," Victoria said. "I'll keep dinner warm."
She turned around and left, knowing that he was glaring at the back of her. He didn't follow her into the kitchen, clearly not interested in picking a fight with her when he had fires to put out. He just stormed off, the elevator door closes after him and Victoria guessed that he'd gone down to Noir. She stood in the kitchen and stirred the sauce before she wondered where Ryan was.
Moving to the balcony, she stepped out. Homelander had left it unlocked. He'd been so eager to get away that he'd forgotten to shut it. Ryan was hovering in the air, arms stretched in front of him as Victoria's eyes widened and she started to think. Could she persuade him to help her? Would she get away in time if Homelander came back up? She wondered if it was worth trying, but then she watched as Ryan landed in front of her and pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Your dad has just had to go and deal with something," Victoria said to him and he nodded.
"I heard. Are you two fighting?"
"No," Victoria lied.
"I know when people are lying to me. You look scared."
"I'm not scared, Ryan," Victoria promised and went to sit down on the bench. "I just…I'm expecting another baby and that scares me. It wasn't easy giving birth to Evelyn so I'm sorry if I seem snappy or off."
Ryan shook his head slowly. "You're nice," he said to her. "I always thought so."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," he confirmed and Victoria smiled to him.
"Well, how about you and me build some Lego, hmm? I think there's a set in the kitchen that I was going to give you when I next saw you. Dinner isn't ready just yet."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Victoria said. "But can I ask you a favour? Can I borrow your phone? I left mine with Evelyn and she smashed it to pieces," she lied to him, pulling a face like it had been her fault. Ryan laughed but nodded, handing her the phone. She ran a hand over his head and smiled to him. "Thanks," she said. "You head in, I'll be there in a minute."
He did as she had asked and she quickly began dialling Billy's number. She'd memorised three numbers off by heart: Billy's, Annie's and Alex's. He didn't pick up, sending her call straight to voicemail. She cursed him and then tried Annie, who also didn't pick up. Calling Alex, she thought she was going to have the same fate, but thankfully he answered.
"Hello?" he sounded hesitant at the unknown number calling him.
"Alex, it's me," Victoria said and she stood up, moving to the furthest end of the balcony.
"Vicky? Jesus…how are you calling me?"
"It's a long story and I don't have time, but there's been stuff going on that you need to know."
"Fire away."
"So…Soldier Boy is Homelander's father. Maeve's on the run. Noir's come back and Homelander has brought Ryan here," Victoria said, babbling quickly. "I know that's a lot of information, but it's the crux of it. I don't know what you can do with it, but-"
"-Slow down there," Alex interrupted her. "We knew most of that. Butcher abandoned Hughie in some gas station because the Annie found out that taking too much Temp-V basically fries your brain. We figured that Butcher was trying to protect Hughie from that…but Soldier Boy had told them about Homelander that morning. As for Maeve-"
"-What do you mean it fries your brain?" Victoria interrupted.
"If you take more than five doses then it has lasting impacts. It's dangerous shit."
"And how many has Billy taken?" Victoria wondered.
"I don't know," Alex replied honestly. "But he's out there with Soldier Boy and Hughie thinks that he's likely to go back to the office to try and get some more of it because that's where he's been stashing it. We're going there to try and stop him. And we've got Maeve."
"You've got her?"
"She escaped and went to M.M.'s apartment. Annie called me to tell me."
"That's good at least," Victoria agreed. "But if you get to Billy then you need to tell him that he can't take anymore V…he can't risk himself like that."
"Your brother doesn't exactly listen to people."
"Tell him that it's come from me."
"Not sure that would stop him when he's trying to save you, but I'll do what I can."
"If that idiot has gotten himself killed then I swear to God…" she left the threat hanging, hand wrapping around the railing and eyes squeezing shut as the wind blew her hair in its bobble. "And you need to tell him about Ryan."
"I will," Alex assured her. "I'll do all of that, okay?"
"Okay," Victoria said.
"But I want to know how you are? Has he hurt you? Annie reckons he's keeping you locked away in the penthouse."
"She's not wrong," Victoria said. "And he hasn't hurt me but he…he's taken Evelyn from me. She used her powers to push him off me when he was grabbing my arm. He thinks I'm manipulating her…using her against him somehow. He's not letting me see her without him being present."
"That fucking asshole," Alex said through clenched teeth.
"I don't know what to do anymore. I'm just trying to stay on his good side when all I want to do is kill him for taking her from me…I begged him, Alex…I got on my knees and I fucking begged him not to do this."
Alex could hear the anguish in her voice as she fought back the tears. "It's alright, Vic, we're going to get her back."
"Will we?"
"We're going to do everything we can. I promise," Alex said. "We'll come for you as soon as we're able to, alright? I just need you to hang in there."
"I'll try," she assured him. "And you? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I mean, I'm working with people I've only just met and have been living in an apartment sharing a room with Annie, but it's alright," he replied. "I'm on my way to meet them now. I just needed some air for a while. I know it's stupid, but I just stare at Vought Tower…wondering what life might have been like if I hadn't met a runaway bride in an elevator."
She laughed once and he was relieved to hear the noise. Blinking, she got rid of the tears that were threatening to spill. "It'd have been less manic."
"Nah, I'd have ended up here…choosing the right side," he said to her. "Just might not have gotten to know you on the way."
"Like I say, less manic."
"I like a little manic," he assured her. "In fact, I think I like it a lot."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," he echoed back to her and Victoria bowed her head.
"I should go," Victoria said. "I said I'd go and spend time with Ryan. He'll be wondering where I am."
"Alright," Alex conceded. "Be careful."
"You too," Victoria said. "And I…thank you, Alex…for doing this, not just for me, but for…you know," she finished, not entirely sure what she wanted to say to him. She was tongue tied. He chuckled and then sighed.
"Well, you know I'm almost at a stage where I'd do anything for my runaway bride," he admitted and Victoria's stomach flipped at his comment, her cheeks turning red and she wondered if he had any idea how much she enjoyed hearing him say stuff like that. "Talk soon, Vic."
"Bye, Alex," she hung up the call and clung onto the phone, more determined than ever to get away from the man she'd married.
...
A/N: I think this is probably one of the longest chapters I've done! A lot has happened but we're moving onto the final fight - send me your thoughts as to how you think it will go down! Only a few more chapters to go and then the wait for season 4 begins (unless I do a few filler chapters). Love to know your thoughts!